Dear Colleagues,

I welcome you to the “Asia-Pacific Conference on ICU Early Rehabilitation” and the “Smart Emergency and Critical Care (SECC) Congress” being held, together, in Taipei, Taiwan on October 3 and 4, 2026.  This is a unique opportunity for learning related to both critical care medicine and inter-disciplinary ICU early rehabilitation.  Please join us in Taiwan for outstanding education and networking!

Dale M. Needham, FCPA, MD, PhD

Professor, Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Taiwan Society of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, it is my great pleasure to invite you all to the 10th APEM 2026 Conference Taipei.

This is our first annual congress combined with the APEM conference. We are very excited combining all the education about the early rehabilitation with critical care medicine. We  will deliver a comprehensive and enriched program than ever before.

In this conference, we will actively expand our global network through research  and academic exchanges with the Asian countries. The international alliances show our commitment for building bridges across  advanced critical care standards through shared knowledge and the mutual learning. I am looking forward to welcoming you to this extraordinary gathering in Taipei.

Warm regards,

Wei-Tien Chang

President of the Taiwan Society of Emergency and 

Critical Care Medicine
Chair and Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine

Distinguished Guests, Esteemed Colleagues, and Dear Friends:

On behalf of the Taiwan Society of Critical Care Medicine, it is my greatest honor and privilege to extend my warmest welcome to all of you to the “ Asia-Pacific Conference on ICU Early Rehabilitation” and “Smart Emergency and Critical Care Congress” being held in Taipei, Taiwan on October 3 and 4, 2026.

Early rehabilitation in critical care is no longer an option — it is an essential component of comprehensive ICU management. By bringing together leading experts across Asia, this conference provides a remarkable platform to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and strengthen collaboration in pursuit of better outcomes for our critically ill patients. Our goal of rehabilitation is not simply to help patients to survive, it is to help them truly live.

Welcome to Taipei. Welcome to the future of critical care rehabilitation!

Chih-Hsin Hsu, M.D., Ph.D., FESC, FACC, FAHA, FAPSC

President, Taiwan Society of Critical Care Medicine

Professor, National Cheng Kung University

Deputy Superintendent, National Cheng Kung University Hospital   

Dear Colleagues,

On behalf of the Taiwan Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (TACVPR), it is my great pleasure to welcome you to the 10th Asia-Pacific Conference on ICU Early Rehabilitation (APEM 2026) in Taipei, Taiwan.

As a supporting organization of APEM 2026, TACVPR is honored to collaborate with the Taiwan Society of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine in advancing the development of ICU early rehabilitation. Today, early rehabilitation has become an integral part of modern critical care, helping critically ill patients prevent ICU-acquired weakness, preserve functional capacity, and achieve better long-term recovery through timely multidisciplinary interventions.

One of the unique strengths of APEM 2026 is its emphasis on practical, hands-on education. TACVPR is proud to organize interactive workshops featuring ICU early mobilization, diaphragm ultrasound, respiratory rehabilitation, airway clearance techniques, and other bedside rehabilitation skills. These workshops are designed to bridge scientific evidence with everyday clinical practice, enabling participants to gain practical experience that can be directly applied in the intensive care unit.

At TACVPR, we are committed to promoting evidence-based cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and integrating rehabilitation into the continuum of critical care. Through education, multidisciplinary collaboration, clinical innovation, and international partnerships, we continue to advance the concept that rehabilitation should begin as early as possible—even in the ICU—to improve patient-centered outcomes and quality of life.

Beyond scientific presentations, APEM 2026 offers an exceptional opportunity to exchange ideas, share clinical experience, foster international collaboration, and build lasting friendships among healthcare professionals dedicated to critical care and rehabilitation.

Together, let us move beyond saving lives to restoring lives. We sincerely invite colleagues from around the world to join us in Taipei as we shape the future of ICU early rehabilitation through innovation, collaboration, and hands-on learning.

We look forward to welcoming you to Taipei this October.

Warm regards,

Ko-Long Lin, MD. Professor .

President of

Taiwan Academy of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (TACVPR)

Chief, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital

Professor, School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University

Sedative selection shapes ICU recovery and rehab programs. Deep sedation with benzodiazepines prolongs mechanical ventilation, increases delirium, and delays mobilization. PADIS guidelines recommend light sedation targeting a RASS of -2 to 0, with propofol or dexmedetomidine preferred over benzodiazepines. Dexmedetomidine is particularly suited to early mobilization because it preserves arousability and cooperation while providing anxiolysis and mild analgesia. An analgesia-first strategy further reduces cumulative sedative exposure.

Light sedation is the gateway to rehabilitation. Early mobilization reduces ICU-acquired weakness, shortens delirium, and improves functional outcomes. Effective programs pair daily sedation assessment with structured mobility milestones, progressing from passive range of motion to sitting, standing, and ambulation, guided by safety criteria. Success depends on interprofessional coordination within the ABCDEF bundle. In short, arousability-preserving sedatives titrated to light sedation create the conditions that make early mobilization feasible, safe, and effective. I hope we can discuss more in APEM conference. See you in Taipei.

Yu-Chang Yeh

Clinical Professor, National Taiwan University Hospital(NTUH)
Cochair of APEM 2026 Taipei

Nutrition as a Foundation for Early Rehabilitation

Nutrition is an integral component of early rehabilitation in critically ill patients. Critical illness triggers systemic inflammation, immune dysregulation, reduced nutrient intake, and accelerated muscle protein breakdown, contributing to ICU-acquired weakness, impaired exercise tolerance, limited participation in rehabilitation, and ultimately delayed functional recovery. Phase-appropriate nutrition therapy goes beyond the provision of calories and protein. It is tailored to metabolic demands to preserve metabolic reserve and support muscle protein synthesis and neuromuscular function. When clinically appropriate, targeted nutrients such as HMB, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids may provide additional support for muscle metabolism and the modulation of inflammatory and immune responses. Integrated with individualized rehabilitation, nutrition therapy may improve rehabilitation tolerance and promote recovery of mobility and functional independence. This is our goal for organizing this conference, I hope to see you all soon in APEM, Taipei.

Yin-Yi Han

Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University

Director, Trauma Intensive Care Unit, National Taiwan University Hospital

Cochair of APEM 2026 Taipei